This page has information to help you with:
It is up to you whether you share information about your impairment or condition with new people. There is no right or wrong time or way. Do what feels comfortable for you. It is important to be yourself. Anyone worth your time will see more than your impairment.
Talking about your condition with new people can be difficult. You might worry that people may not understand, will make assumptions or will judge you.
You might want to talk because:
People will often follow your lead on talking about disability. They are more likely to be comfortable if you are. You might try different approaches depending on the group or person.
When you feel ready to talk about your impairment, being open and positive can help people get to know you better. They might be curious and ask questions. You could invite them to ask questions if you think it will help. Sometimes you might need to be firm and honest in your answers.
You could try talking to other disabled people about the type of questions they are asked and how they answer.
Talking about your other interests and what you have in common can also help. This keeps your conversation friendly and balanced. It also shows that while disability is an important part of your life, it is just a part of who you are.
You might prefer to get to know someone before telling them.
This might be because you are worried the other person will only see your condition or judge you. You might want to help them feel comfortable by getting to know you first.
This could be after a couple of hours, a few meet-ups or when you become good friends.
How much you want to tell someone is up to you. Here is what some disabled people say about this:
"Explain how your condition affects you day to day, such as I can't hear you when you call me from across the room."
"The more I've learned about my condition, the more I've been able to be more open about it."
"Speaking to other people about how they choose to explain their condition helped me."
"Good friends will stop seeing condition or impairment as a barrier but just an aspect of your life. It won't be the only thing they know about you."
"In the past I'd hide my impairment because I was self-conscious. I knew that talking to people first usually meant they didn't care when they saw I was different. I'm now trying to be open from the start. Most people just chat with me and sneak a couple of glances. I sometimes drop it into conversation if I think it will help with any awkwardness."
You can meet new people online, in your local area or through groups, events and activities.
There are many groups where people meet to do things they enjoy. This might be theatre, music or hillwalking. There is a group for every interest.
You can find out about these through:
These are informal groups which might arrange events in your area, such as nature walks or outdoor film nights. They may also have a WhatsApp or Facebook group that you could join.
Gig Buddies enable people with learning disabilities and autistic people to enjoy community activities, especially live music.
You can meet people with shared values through volunteering. It can be a great way to spend time with people while completing a shared task.
Many local groups will need volunteers. These groups can cover a wide range of interests, such as:
You could help with things like:
You can ask your local volunteer centre about opportunities near you.
Find a volunteering opportunity (NCVO)
Search for voluntary work (Do IT)
There are sports and recreation activities at every level. If you enjoy sports, they can be a good way to meet people or become part of a team.
Some sports clubs are competitive, while others are more informal and focused on leisure, exercise or friendship.
Contact the organiser before you go to find out what kind of group it is. They may offer taster sessions so you can try things out without making a commitment.
Many groups or clubs will host meet-ups or nights out as well as training or competitions.
Find a club near you (Every Body Moves)
There are lots of places to ‘meet’ people online. If you feel anxious about meeting new people, an online group can be an easier way to get to know them.
Searching for an online group can be daunting, as there are so many to choose from.
Scope’s online community is a supportive space where disabled people, their friends and families can chat to people with similar experiences. Once you have registered, you can join any discussion or start your own group. Discussion groups cover all sorts of topics, from sex and relationships to socialising.
The virtual coffee lounge is an informal space where you can chat about hobbies, sports, movies, cooking or anything else that interests you.
Facebook groups can be:
Private groups based around a shared interest or experience are a good place to start. They can provide a space to get to know people. Private groups usually moderate who joins them. This means that you will have to ask to join the group. The person who ‘owns’ the group must approve your request. They may ask you a few questions, such as why you want to join the group.
Once you join the group, you can:
Find a group by searching for a particular interest or through a charity’s homepage. Facebook will suggest groups based on your interests and location.
Social media platforms can be useful to:
These apps are designed to help people find friends. They are different from dating and relationship apps. They can help you find people in your area with shared interests.
Meetup was set up to help people find local groups where they can make friends or try out something new. There are many groups for disabled people listed in the UK. You can enter a search term and a location and find out what is happening near you.
Luv2MeetU is "a friendship and relationship service for adults with learning disabilities and/or autism". They arrange events for their members and support people to get involved in social activities. They can set up meetings between members with a chaperone.
Bumble For Friends looks similar to a dating app, where you can see profiles from people who are looking for friendships nearby and swipe to match with people you would like to be friends with. If you match with somebody, you can chat together through the app and make plans to meet up in person.
Once you have met someone online, you might feel more comfortable about meeting up in person. It is hard to know for sure that the person you have met online is being honest with you.
Follow these tips to stay safe when meeting people for the first time:
If you prefer to meet people who understand what it is like to be disabled, you could look for local disability organisations or groups that focus on your particular condition.
There are many local groups that support disabled people. They may be pan-disability or be more specific, such as a group for visually impaired people. They are often informal so you can turn up whenever you like.
Some groups may arrange accessible trips, for example, to the theatre, a museum or a concert. They may also arrange adjustments for the group, such as:
These groups will usually have considered possible barriers to joining, such as timing or location of meetings. They will know that some people find it difficult to attend regularly.
You may also find you can arrange your own meetups with people from the group.
Find your local group by searching online.
Your local authority’s website should have details of:
Find your local authority (GOV.UK)
Many larger cultural venues or leisure organisations offer accessible events for disabled people, such as BSL (British Sign Language) signed tours of a museum. These events can be a good way to meet other people who have a shared interest.
Days out for disabled people and their families
To find out about these events, sign up for newsletters from:
Phab Clubs across England and Wales enable disabled children, young people and adults to get together with friends and family for all kinds of activities and social events.
NURA Community is an online app for people with long COVID, chronic fatigue and similar conditions. They offer group chats and online events so you can get to know new people from home.
Mind has local mental health groups run by local people for local people.
RNIB Connect is led by blind and partially sighted people. It brings together anyone affected by sight loss. They run Facebook groups and can help you find community events.
The MS Society offers an online search for activities to connect people affected by multiple sclerosis.
MS Online Community (MS Society)
Macmillan’s online community is a safe space for people with cancer to share their experiences and connect with others.
Cancer Online Community (Macmillan)
The National Autistic Society’s online community is a place for autistic people and their families to meet like-minded people.
National Autistic Society Community (NAS)
Find autism support groups (NHS)
Day care centres provide activities for disabled people in a safe and supportive environment. They aim to help people feel less isolated and have more social opportunities.
If you are interested, contact your local authority to find out about day centres in your area.
If you or someone you know is lonely and needs a befriender, try Befriending Networks.
Not everyone understands disability and they might feel uncomfortable around disabled people. Some people will want to ask questions but are too shy or will ignore you. You could try to start a conversation with them. Depending on their attitude, you could then bring up your impairment. Or let them know if you are happy for them to ask questions.
Others might ask you questions that are direct or even rude. If someone asks an invasive or inappropriate question, you could:
These approaches can help people understand without you saying more than you want to say.
Some people can make inconsiderate or offensive comments because they are ignorant or they are feeling nervous. They may not be aware that they are causing you to feel uncomfortable.
Many people are open to learning and will adjust how they think about disabled people. If you feel comfortable, talking about disability can help them feel less awkward.
End the Awkward tips to help others feel more confident around disability
The social model of disability
If you experience discrimination or bullying because you are disabled, this could be disability hate crime.
If you are struggling with your mental health, ask for support when you can.
Looking after your mental health and wellbeing is important. Everyone manages their mental health differently.
For contact details of organisations that can help, go to:
Last reviewed by Scope on: 13/07/2026
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